Girdle, or wide belt
Artist:
Yanktonnai Sioux
Medium: Commercial leather, brass tacks, metal buckle, beads
Dimensions:L: 85 cm plus 77 cm dangle W: 10.5 cm
Classification: Costume
Credit Line: Gift of Ogden B. Read
Object number: 1881.3.130.1
DescriptionA wide dark leather belt. Brass studs edge the belt all the way around its border. The leather is 1/4" thick and is quite stiff; a silver colored (iron?) buckle is attached to another piece of leather that has been sewn separately to the belt with sinew. To the wide section of the belt is attached a narrow strip which contains four buckle holes which goes through the buckle in order to fasten the belt. Also attached to the belt is a strike light pouch, typically used by Plains Indians. This pouch measures 3 1/2 x 3" and the front side of the pouch is decorated with bead work with 3/4" conical shaped pieces of tin attached to the fringe (they produced a pleasant noise when moved). Three pieces of fringe attached to each bottom side. The bead work is light blue with a pattern done in yellow and dark blue beads.